PC Memory Stick Problem

[LadyFish]

If for some reason your portable memory stick is no longer recognized by any computer, is there any way to fix it?

This is a stick thats used on a daily basis and there has never been a problem with it before. :'(

We tried it in three different computers and none recognize it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dolluper]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

Questions type,size,age If it has been reformated to many times it could go south, or a corrupt file two identical done on a speed download,there are lots of recovery softwares but I would try the manufacter first and see if the have a recovery utility

 

[LadyFish]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

Attache 256 M, 1 year old.

 

[dolluper]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

used mostly for pictures or pic's and data same time

 

[xtraham]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

my son is pretty good with computers, (for his age=14)
but he has had a couple of those flash drives bite the dust on him and could not get them to work, so now he backs up his flash drives on an external,
I konw this does not help, but seems that it's not uncommon for flash drives to go bad.........
memory stick, thumb drive, whatever you call'em

 

[i386]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

If it really won't work in ANY computer then it's dead.

 

[dolluper]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

Here's their so called support
http://www.pny.com/support/
Drivers for only Win 98 ,2000 up should have then already in pool

 

[vipzach]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

Are you hearing the computer make the little noise when you plug it into the USB port? If not, it is probly dead. If you can hear it, then check the disk management and see if it is listed. If it is listed, then change the drive letter and it will probly show up again.

I am betting that it is dead though. :'( I tell all of my user to not rely on those flash drives. Always keep another copy of your files somewhere else.

 

[KaGee]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

One of the drawbacks of them. Never store anything on them unless you have a back-up of the files elsewhere.

I noticed Mem-Sticks are down in price. But so are CD-R's.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

Thanks guys. It seems to be dead.

 

[tommays]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

We have found that the better quality name brands like Kingston hold up very well and have real support


Tommays

 

[i386]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

I forgot to mention... If the data you had on there was really important you could try a data recovery service like Drive Savers . It's expensive and no guarantees. But sometimes data is priceless.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

Thanks Y'all!

After many attempts, I was able to wiggle it around enough to get it to work by holding it in the USB port in a cockeyed position with one hand and copy the information off of it with the other.

Phew!

 

[dolluper]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

Good stuff LFI knew u knew how to wiggle

 

[Scoop]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

Good work Ladyfish. Look at the contacts on the back. It sounds like they may be dirty. You can try to clean them with a clean cotton dust free rag dampened slightly with alcohol. Not too much. This may clean the contacts good enough to have it read again. Make sure it is a cotton rag slightly dampened or you could statically discharge across the contacts destroying it completely.

Most flash memory devices will hold up a long time if properly taken care of. this means keeping them clean, dry, and away from static discharges. They should last for years, but like memory in your computer can go bad. They do have a limit to how many times they can be written to, but it is many years worth of writes.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

I had a SanDisk mini cruizer 256 mb flash drive that seemed goofy ever since I bought it. I believe SanDisk is a pretty good brand.

Originally, the computer would see it as a MiniCruizer then it began only seeing it as X Drive. When you try to access it, you got a message asking to insert disc in drive X.

Every now and again I could get it to display it's contents but never again did any computer see it as the MiniCruizer.

In frustration, I called SanDisk. They sent me a new one. The curious thing is that there is a lot of pre-loaded operating stuff on the new one that was not on the original one. I'm not sure what it all is but the drive does work without fail now.

 

[rwise]

Re: PC Memory Stick Problem

I have some simpltech 1 gig flashdrives, 1 is dead 1 is dieing and 1 funtions well, also have 1 of the sandisk 512 I have never had a problem with. I have heard that some have moveing parts in them similar to a hard dirve and give more problems than the others, don't know if thats true, maybe someone here will. backup backup backup!